Misconduct charge for McCullough
Ulster forward Matt McCullough has been hit by two misconduct complaints over alleged use of racist and abusive language to London Irish player Delon Armitage.
The 25-year-old lock will be requested to appear before a disciplinary committee following an investigation by European Rugby Cup Limited.
ERC disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor last month wrote to Ulster and Irish asking for full details.
O’Connor has now decided there are grounds to proceed with misconduct complaints following the alleged incidents during and after Heineken Cup pool games between the teams in Reading on December 9 and Belfast six days later.
Ulster mounted a vigorous defence of McCullough before Christmas following allegations by Irish that he racially abused Armitage.
Irish did not publicly name McCullough, and they confirmed they had received a formal apology from an Ulster player for what they described as “foul and abusive language”.
But Ulster chief executive Michael Reid stressed that was not an admission by McCullough that he had racially abused 23-year-old Armitage.
McCullough, meanwhile, has been named in the Ulster starting line-up for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash against Llanelli Scarlets in Belfast.
No date has yet been set for any hearing.
